No matter your aim, point north and get started!!
The glass structure of Polaris Hall is an iconic architectural feature at the Air Force Academy, which points toward the North Star. The building houses the Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD) and often hosts conferences, seminars and meetings to explore and teach future leaders of the Air Force and Space Force (and other groups) character-based leadership. However, for future cadets, the initial focus of their efforts must be to earn an appointment. Like using Polaris, the North Star, your journey must have a direction and should start as soon as feasible.
So how do we get started?
First, all of the points that I will make will apply to candidates for the other service academies, such as the US Military Academy and the US Naval Academy as well as the US Coast Guard Academy and the US Merchant Marine Academy.
My first recommendation is to 'dive' into the Admissions website for the AF Academy (and other service academies). You will find very important tips on what it takes to qualify for an appointment. The site provides lots of details, including how to qualify and how to prepare. Finally, you must execute on a plan that allows you to qualify for an appointment. Let's explore these three critical areas.
Qualifications
Good candidates will be scholars, athletes and leaders. Do you best in school while following a college preparatory regime, including four years of math (with geometry, algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus), four years of English (with a college preparatory class in writing), four years of science (with Physics, Biology and Chemistry), three years of social studies (with US History), two years of a foreign language and one year of computer studies.
Doing well on either the SAT or ACT are also important steps to qualifying to become a cadet. Average scores for the AF Academy are in the top 10% of all scores in the country. Review the standards noted in the Admissions website. In short, superscores of a 1350+ and a 29+ should be your target. Some students will score lower than the averages, of course, but you should strive for the best scores you can achieve.
Play sports and participate with teams inside and outside of school, if possible. Good candidates should be fit and able to run mutiple miles with ease. The Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) will be used as a measure of your fitness.
Well qualified candidates will participate in different activities, engaging with others and seeking opportunities to lead as part of these groups. Activities, such as Scouting, Civil Air Patrol, Key Club, mentoring, tutoring and other engaging pursuits, are important components of a competitive application.
You will find more details about qualifications for the Air Force Academy in my blog.
Preparations
In light of the qualifications noted above, candidates should aim to be a scholar, an athlete and a leader. It is never too early to start this process. An 8th grader, a high school freshman, sophomore, junior or senior can take concrete steps to improve their qualifications in all three areas.
For academics, arrange time to speak to your high school counselor to ensure you are following all of the recommended courses and subjects noted by the AF Academy. Take the more rigorous versions of the courses, such as honors or advanced placement. Maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher to be competitive and seek to be in the top 10% of your class.
Preparations for the SAT and/or ACT include an early start to review all of the skills you have learned since the 8th grade in mathematics and English. Numerous tools exist to assist you with your preparations. Kahn Academy is a good one for the SAT, and the Army website, March2Success.com, will help you prepare for both the ACT and the SAT.
For fitness, beyond playing a variety of sports, start preparing early for the CFA. Practice all of the events, including establishing a long-distance running routine of 10 miles per week. All types of sports from football to golf and Ultimate Frisbee to softball are acceptable. Teamwork is an important component of playing sports in high school.
Join activities and groups that will allow you to engage and become a leader of some of their activities. Working your way 'up' through the organization is an important lesson learning to support others before taking on more responsibilites as a more senior member of the group. Leadership is both formal and informal inside many groups so look for both types of leadership, such as the vice-president of a club (formal) or as a mentor for new members of your sports team (informal).
My blog about preparing for the application process can be found here.
Execution
Make a plan and then execute it!
Become a scholar. Challenge yourself with the most advanced courses and be your best in class. Take the SAT or ACT as early as the end of your sophomore year. I advise my students to take the tests "early and often" using superscoring to push your results higher for submission. Some students, by the way, will find that they perform better on one test versus the other. USAFA does not 'care' which one you take, and you may submit both if you cannot determine which set of scores is better.
Be an athlete. Start preparing for the CFA today. Join a sports team and prepare now by practicing your sport and its associated skills. As a teammate, support others, assist the coach, and seek responsibilities with the team.
Be a leader. Become a member of different groups or clubs that interest you. Seek different responsibilities to show that you are someone that can be 'counted on' and soon you will become part of the formal leadership of the group.
Your direction should be becoming the best qualified candidate you can be for the US Air Academy. Start preparing today and then follow your 'North Star' to your final destination: an appointment to the AF Academy and an officer's commission in the US Air Force or Space Force. Good luck with your journey!
[ I would welcome a chance to discuss details with you. I offer coaching services to pace and prepare you (and your parents!) for the entire Academy application process -- a 'North Star' journey. Contact me at chris@cbbrechin.com, 503.515.7406 or complete my contact form on the home page. ]
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